Hot Topics:

RH All-Area girl's swim team: Records all around

Loveland's Michal Bower, Brooke Hansen lead All-Area swim team

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
02/11/2013 08:04:29 PM MST

The 2013 Reporter-Herald girl s All-Area swim team put up some of the best numbers in city history, breaking 10 city records in all. Leading the way are (left to right) the diver of the year, Michal Bower, and swimmer of the year, Brooke Hansen, both of Loveland. Joining them on the team are Thompson Valley s Marina Fonseca, Mattea Wabeke, Jessi Modlich, Allie Pfauth, Kelly Sheldon and Eryn Eddy; and Naomi Einhellig of Loveland.
(Timothy Hurst)

People from around the state are often amazed the city of Loveland has three high schools and all of them have pools.

There's a reason, and Exhibit A may be this year's collection of the Reporter-Herald All-Area girl's swimming and diving team. The group of nine combined to become the first diver in state history to win four state titles; win a fourth team title (for Thompson Valley in Class 4A); win two individual state titles; a relay state title with a classification record, to boot; and break 10 city records all before the waters had calmed.

Leading the way are diver of the year Michal Bower and swimmer of the year, Brooke Hansen, both of Loveland. They are joined by teammate Naomi Einhellig, along with Thompson Valley's Eryn Eddy, Marina Fonseca, Jessi Modlich, Allie Pfauth, Kelly Sheldon and Mattea Wabeke.

While Hansen walked the halls of school Monday as a first-time state champion, Bower is ready to exit the building, leaving a historical marker behind. Four girls have won three state titles in their career, but Bower is the only one with four to her credit.

When she woke up Sunday morning, for the first time in a few days, her body felt normal. The tension and pressure from the build up to her day on the board was all gone. What replaced it was a feeling of accomplishment that can never be forgotten.

"It was pretty nice," Bower said. "About Sunday morning, I woke up and it was easier to breathe. Literally, the two days before the meet my feet were sweating constantly, my hands were sweating. I was on a 48-hour adrenaline rush. It just felt nice to have my body feel normal. My heart wasn't pounding. I was relaxed."

Advertisement

The only other time she felt that way was when she climbed the steps on to the diving board during last Saturday's prelims and finals. That is her comfort zone, and she showed none of the pressure. She let her training and muscle memory take over to the tune of a winning total of 486.15 points.

Now, after four years of being the one to beat, she's ready to head to the University of Arizona to be the new kid on the block, the one gazing at amazement at teammates who have competed internationally and for national teams. She's ready to learn new skills and be taught in different ways.

"I love competition, and if I have a diver next to me who is better than me every single day, it's going to up my level of diving," Bower said. "I love the chase, and I want that to be able to push me every single day, not every couple of months."

Before she leaves, Hansen might want to check with her on how to handle expectations, because there are plenty for her now. The sophomore won the 100-yard breaststroke title in Class 5A with an All-American time of 1:03.35, as well as posting another All-American time of 2:02.20 in the 200 individual medley in taking second to four-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin.

Hansen entered the meet the hunter, having the second-best time in both events, admitting there was really no pressure on her. Now that the role is reversed, she's really not all that worried her approach will change.

What has, however, are the internal expectations as her timetable has been altered dramatically.

"I wasn't expecting to win, but I hoped I would win," she said. "I just didn't expect it. I thought maybe my junior year or sophomore year, but not my sophomore year. I think each year will get better and my times will get faster. I hope to win some more, maybe."

Her real success on the season was the fact she was so versatile. She entered state with three city records, lowering her mark in the two events she swam, losing the butterfly standard to Sheldon over the weekend. She also had the fastest area time in the 50 free (her 24.12 just .37 off the mark of Michelle Bird back in 2000), and she had the second-best area time in three other events.

Now, all she wants to do is find the little areas she needs to improve to make her even more dynamic the next two seasons.

"I'm going to perfect my underwaters a lot, and just the technique and become stronger in backstroke," she said. "I want to work on all of my events."

Eddy -- The sophomore set the city records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyles this season, winning the 4A title in the 200 with an All-American time of 1:48.34. Her second-place finish in the 100 free was also an All-American cut (50.40), and she helped two of TVHS' three relays break city records at the state meet.

Einhellig -- A junior, she broke the school record in the 100 backstroke (57.73) at the state meet and was part of the 200 medley and 400 free relay teams that broke school records at state. She placed fifth in the backstroke and 14th in the 100 butterfly, with both times among the top three in the area.

Fonseca -- The junior sprint specialist placed seventh at state in the 50 free, and 12th in the 100 free, both with season-best times. She was also part of two city-record setting relays at state.

Modlich -- A four-time member of the All-Area team, the senior was a two-event state placer for the Eagles, taking third in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 backstroke. She was also a major component in the Eagles' record-setting relays at state.

Pfauth -- The senior had her best year as a prep, among the top times in the area in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyles. A key relay member as well, she placed fifth in both the 200 and 500 frees at state .

Sheldon -- The junior saved her best for last, breaking the city records in the 100 butterfly (57.17) and the 100 backstroke (57.08) at state. She contributed on two relays as she placed second in the backstroke and fourth in the butterfly at state.

Wabeke -- The sophomore contributed to a pair of the Eagles relays, but produced a pair of impressive individual performances at state. She placed seventh in the 200 IM and sixth in the 500 freestyle.